Description

This school psychologist position is for the AHS T3 program. The high school Level T3 (or Tier 3) Program is a SPED program for students with a primary Emotional Disability. In addition, T3 students have evidenced chronic challenges with significant psychiatric issues that have interfered with school functioning and participation. For example, many AHS T3 students have a history of requiring higher levels of clinical care outside of school. The goal of this program is to provide students with multidisciplinary emotional, behavioral, social, and academic support through delivery of specialized instruction, therapeutic counseling, care coordination, and academic help. This is intentionally an inclusion-based program with a wrap-around support model.The program is operated by a school psychologist and their partner SPED teacher.

The T3 program includes the following elements:

• 
  Clinical Support: counseling, crisis intervention, psychoeducation
• Academic Support: partnership with teachers to implement accommodations and IEP provisions, help students maintain independence skills
• Family Support: frequent collaboration with families
• Care Coordination: frequent collaboration with collateral service providers

Program staff work in close partnership with social work staff, guidance counselors, and nursing. Program oversight is provided by the district’s Clinical Director in partnership with high school administration.

Desirable candidates for this position will have experience working with adolescents who struggle with significant psychiatric challenges (i.e.internalized symptoms such as severe anxiety, depression), and require support managing academic stress, general student responsibilities, and social challenges. This program is not for students with externalizing behavior, socially maladjusted behavior, and.or substance use challenges.

Responsibilities

• Individual and group counseling for students in the T3, including use of evidence-based interventions
• Consultation to teachers regarding specific student needs
  • Recommendations for teachers regarding instructional strategies for this student population
• Organized planning for student progress in the the program and data tracking related to IEP goals and students’ symptom presentations
• Psychoeducational assessment for students in the program
• Strong family communication and work with collateral contacts who support students

Qualifications

• MA DESE School Psychologist Certification required
• NCSP credential desired
• Experience adapting curriculum for students with special needs
• Strong experience working with teens who are struggling with emotional challenges

Supplemental Information

Andover Public Schools (APS) seeks candidates who embody our ethos, which includes valuing the identities of all students, high expectations for all students, teaching excellence, collaboration, innovation, respect, and responsibility.
APS is committed to hiring and supporting a racially and ethnically diverse faculty and staff. Racially and ethnically diverse teachers produce a myriad of positive outcomes for all students, especially the most historically marginalized students.